Respirator



Oct. 1, 1940. w. H. LEHMBERG 7 2,216,619

RESPIRATOR Filed April 1, 1937 INVENTOR Mill/7M hf LEHMBE/EG.

Patented Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT ori ice RESPIRATOB;

Application April 1, 1937', Serial No. 134,317

- 8 Claims. (Cl. 128-146) This invention relates to improvements inrespirators and has particular reference to novel means and method ofmaking the same.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a simple,comfortable and efficient respirator for protecting the user from dust,smoke and noxious or asphyxiating gases, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a respirator having acomparatively small face piece adapted to fit over the mouth andnostrils of the wearer and so constructed that a portion thereof may beopened to enable the wearer to expectorate or to carry on aconversation, or in general gain access to the mouth without disturbingthe fitted relation of the face piece with the face of. the wearer andwhich has a comparatively large filter unit so constructed as to besupported with a maximum of convenience and comfort without obstructingthe vision of the wearer.

Another object is to provide a filter unit which may be adjusted to andcarried; by the head of the wearer and which will provide a highmagnitude of filtration with a minimum resistance to inhalation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a respirator which will belight in weight and which will provide relatively free inhalation andexhalation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing. It will be apparent that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction, arrangement of parts and method shown anddescribed Without departing from the spirit of the invention asexpressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to belimited to the exact details of construction, arrangement of parts andmethod shown, as the'preferred form only has been shown by way ofillustration.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. I is a front elevation of the device embodying the invention.showing it in the approximate position of use;

Fig. II is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IIII of Fig.1 andlooking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. III is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on line III--I-II ofFig. I;

Fig. IV is a sectional view taken as on line IV-IV of Fig. III; and vFig. V is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on line V-V of Fig. II.

It has been usual in most instances in the past after the respirator hasbeen positioned on the instances in the past, severe injuries to healthhave been suffered through the accidental inhaling of injurious gases,fumes, etc. 7

Another disadvantage of many prior art respirators is that in mostinstances the filter elements were small and of short duration and inmany instances the respirators were exceptionally heavy anduncomfortable and, therefore, forced the wearer at different intervalsduring their use to remove them for short periods for relief.

One of the prime objects, therefore, of the present invention is toovercome or eliminate the above disadvantages by providing a respiratorwhich is so constructed as to provide a filter unit of extremely largearea and long life in high concentration and which is so arranged thatthe major portion of its weight is carried by the head of the wearer andthe part overlying the nostrils and mouth of the wearer is provided witha portion which may be opened without disturbing the face engagingportion thereof to enable the wearer to expectorate or to carry on aconversation.

The device embodying the invention comprises a relatively large filterunit l formed, as shown in Figs. I, III and IV, of a wire framing whichcomprises a plurality of rectangular shaped members 2 connected by aplurality of connecting members 3. The connecting members 3 are arrangedin staggered relation so that the framing may be expanded or contractedto fit the head of the wearer. The wire framing is covered withsheet-like porous filter material 4, such as felt or other desirablefilter material, which is pleated to provide for the'expanding andcontracting of the wire framing and to provide large filter area andthus allow a more dense and effective filter to be used. This expandingor confilter material completely surrounds the framing and is providedwith a. flexible and extensible tubular portion 5 to which flexible pipelines 6 are connected adjacent one end thereof and which communicatewith a face piece 1 to which they are attached adjacent their oppositeends, as shown in Fig. I. The face piece I is preferably formed ofrelatively thin, stiff material shaped to cover the nostrils and themouth of the wearer. It is provided adjacent its inner contour edge withflexible face engaging means 8 which is so constructed as to be selfadjusting to the irregularities of the contour of the face of the wearerand to provide a comfortable fit. The front of the face piece isprovided with an opening 9 surrounded by a flange l forming a shoulderin which is placed a resilient angled lining l I.

A suitable flap-like member l2 having a peripheral flanged portion l3adapted to fit within the flange l0 and engage the angled resilientlining H is hinged at M to a bracket l5 carried by the front of the facepiece. The flap-like member may be swung on its pivotal support by meansof a handle it and is adapted to be constantly urged toward the facepiece 1 by a spring member H which normally holds the flange l3 insealed relation with the resilient lining ii.

The flap-like member I2 is preferably formed to a meniscus shape andwith a plurality of openings l8 therein, as shown inFig. II. A disk ofrubber or other suitable resilient means 89 carried by a headed pinmember 25 is adapted to overlie the openings l8 and, due to the cuppingthereof brought about by the meniscus shape of the flap-like member l2and to its inherent tendency to return to its initial set, willconstantly tend to remain in engagement with the flap-like member l2over the openings l8, that is, a positively sealed valve. The member i9is protected by a cover member 2! which is threadedly connected at 22 toan opposed flange-like member 23 formed on the side of the flap-likemember 52 opposite the flange I3. The cover member is provided with aplurality of openings 24 to allow free passage of air therethrough. Thisarrangement provides an exhalation valve which may be moved bodilytoward or away from the opening 9 in the front of the face piece I.

The sides of the face piece 1 to which the ends of the flexible pipelines '5 are attached are provided with inhalation valves formed asshown in Fig. V by providing a plurality of openings 25 within theconfines of the ends of the pipe line attachments. A disk-like member 26of rubber or other suitable flexible material is secured to the innerwall of the face piece 7 and in superimposed relation with the openings25 by means of a pin member 27!. This provides a valve arrangement whichduring inhalation will permit the air drawn through the filter unit I topass through the pipe lines 5 into the face piece 1. During exhalation,the members 26, which due to their normal tendency to return to theirinitial set, will close the openings 25 whereupon continued exhalationwill cause the disk-shaped member 19 to move away from the openings l8and permit the passage of air outwardly of the face piece. Duringinhalation, the disk 19 is adapted to close the openings K8 in a mannersimilar to the disk 26, to permit only air coming through the filterunit I to enter the face piece.

The face piece is held in engagement with the face by means of asuitable resilient head band or the like 28.

Although for ease of illustration, the connection 5 in Fig. I is shownto be at the side of the head it is to be understood that thisconnection is preferably in the rear. Connections similar to 5 may beprovided, one on each side of the filter unit, or a single connection 5and pipe line may be provided directly in front if desired.

The ends of the pipe lines 6 are secured to the filter unit I and facepiece 1 by clamping the said ends between a protuberance 29 and clampring 30 such as shown in Fig. V.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a respirator hasbeen provided whereby the excess weight usually introduced by the filtermeans has been obviated by constructing the said filter in the form of acap to be worn on the head, whereby a large filtering area is providedwithout discomfort to the wearer and simple means has been providedwhereby the wearer may gain access to his mouth or carry onconversation, etc., without having to disarrange the face piece. 7 I

The filter unit, although of a relatively large area type, isexceptionally light in weight and permits free inhalation. It is alsoreadily adjustable to heads of varying sizes.

With the above arrangement the face piece of the respirator may befitted and tested for leakage and during use need not be disturbed. Thisarrangement, therefore, greatly improves devices of this nature.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A respirator comprising a face piece to fit about the nostrils andmouth of the wearer and having an opening therein adapted to assume aposition before the mouth, said portion of the face piece surroundingsaid opening having an angled lip with an outwardly flared portion, afiaplike member hinged to the face piece for movement toward and awayfrom said opening and having a peripheral angled lip shaped to fit overthe outwardly flared portion of the lip on the face piece and meansbetween said lips when positioned in overlapped relation with each otherfor sealing the said lips against the entrance of air.

2. A respirator comprising a face piece to fit in 1:

'means separate from said face piece and joined therewith by meansattached about said side openings, means separate from said filter meansV for holding said face piece on the face, a flaplike member having anangled lip adapted to fit in close relation with the shouldered portionof the face piece, cushion-like means between said shouldered portionsfor sealing the same, said flap-like member having an opening thereinand resilient means fitting over said opening, and being so arranged asto prevent inhalation through said opening and yet permit exhalation.

3. A respirator comprising a cap-like filter unit of filter material andan adjustable frame support internally of said material and completelysurrounded thereby, a separate face piece shaped to fit about the noseand mouth of the wearer and supported therein by" supporting meansseparate from said filter unit and a pipe like air passageway connectingsaid filter unit and face piece, said face piece having an opening inthe front thereof and a spring operated flap-like member pivotallysecured to said face piece for movement, through the function of thespring, toward and,

by manual operation against the spring, away from said opening to openand close said opening, said flap-like member having a plurality ofopenings therethrough and an exhalation valve there- 4. A respiratorcomprising a cap-like filter unit of filter material and an adjustableframe support internally of said material and completely surroundedthereby, a separate face piece shaped to fit about the nose and mouth ofthe wearer and supported thereon by supporting means separate from saidfilter unit and having a pair of spaced relatively small openings andanother relatively large opening therein, a pipe-like air passagewayconnecting the said filter unit to said relatively small openings, aflap-like member having a plurality of small openings therein secured tosaid face for movement toward and away from the large opening to openand close said opening and an exhalation valve member on said flap-likemember and rubber-like cushion means surrounding said large opening forsealing said flaplike member in fitted relation about the, said openingso as to allow exhalation through said openings in said flap-like memberwhile the periphery thereof is in air tight relation with the facepiece.

5. A respirator comprising a face piece to fit about the nostrils andmouth of the wearer and having an opening therein adapted to assume aposition before the mouth, said portion of the face piece surroundingsaid opening having an outwardly flared lip portion, a flap-like memberhinged to said face piece for movement toward and away from saidopening, said flap-like member having outwardly flared lip portions onthe opposed sides thereof, one of said outwardly flared lip portionsbeing shaped to fit with the outwardly flared lip portion of the facepiece and the opposed outwardly flared lip portion providing means towhich a cap-like member is detachably secured and a valve member on saidflap-like member between said member and cap.

6. A respirator comprising a face piece to fit about the nostrils andmouth of the wearer and having an opening therein adapted to assume aposition before the mouth, said portion of the face piece surroundingsaid opening having an outwardly flared lip portion, a flap-like memberhinged to said face piece for movement toward and away from saidopening, said flap-like member having outwardly flared lip portions onthe opposed sides thereof, one of said outwardly fiared lip portionsbeing shaped to fit with the outwardly flared lip portion of the facepiece and the opposed outwardly flared lip portion providingmeans towhich a cap-like member is detachably secured, a valve member on saidflap-like member between said member and cap and means associated withthe outwardly flared lip portion of said face piece or with theassociated lip portion of the flap-like member for sealing said memberswith each other when in fitted relation.

7. A respirator comprising a face piece to fit about the nostrils andmouth of the wearer and having an opening therein adapted to assume aposition before the month, said portion of the face piece surroundingsaid opening having an outwardly flared lip portion, a flap-like memberhinged to said face piece for movement toward and away from saidopening, said flap-like member having outwardly flared lip portions onthe opposed sides thereof, one of said outwardly flared lip portionsbeing shaped to fit with the outwardly flared lip portion of the facepiece and the opposed outwardly flared lip portion providing means towhich a cap-like member is detachably secured, a-valve member on saidflaplike member between said member and cap, means associated with theoutwardly flared lip portion of said face piece or with the associatedlip portion of the flap-like member for sealing said members with eachother when in fitted relation and resilient means for urging said lipportions in sealed relation with each other.

8. A respirator comprising a face piece to fit in continuous air tightperipheral relation with the face about and adjacent the nostrils andmouth of the wearer and having an opening on each side thereofcontaining an inhalation valve and a front opening therein adapted toassume a position before the mouth said portion of the face piecesurrounding said front opening having an angled lip with an outwardlyflared portion filter means separate from said face piece and joinedtherewith by means attached about said side openings, means separatefrom said filter means for holding said face piece on the face, a

flap-like member hinged to the face piece for

